Allen better not mess around with naming Rattler QB#2
The YouTube video below gives a pretty balanced view of the QB competition in the Saints QB room and how many here are overhyping Rattler a bit early.
Some of ya'll here are so smitten with Rattler that an 11-page thread like this exists - "Allen better not mess with Naming Rattler #2 QB." What?
This coming right behind a 5 page thread that dominated the front page here a little over a week ago, "Rattler game 2 solidifies". A future HOFer already?
Some have stated that if he isn't named #2 QB Allen will be hurting his confidence and stunting his growth when it's only a matter of time before he's the starter. I seriously doubt that Rattler is so shallow that he will be emotionally destroyed if he isn't named the #2 in his rookie year. It's obvious though that some here will.
I get the excitement to have a young rookie QB on the roster that appears to have the tools to be a starting QB in the NFL. But guys, tone it down just a bit maybe. While I'm all in on hoping Rattler becomes something special for the Saints at some point in time, how about for now we let the coaches do their jobs.
While the focus in this thread title appears to question Allens ability to judge the players on his roster, it fails to take into consideration that the Saints have a QB coach in Andrew Janocko and an Offensive Coordinator named Klint Kubiak that works with the QBs daily, directly coaching and teaching them in practices, and hold meetings while instructing and critiquing them. Allen is not in those meetings. He's not the first line of evaluation. His decision about the depth status in the QB room is heavily influenced by the input of Janocko and Kubiak, who also have Senior Offensive Assistant Rick Dennison and two young Offensive Assistants in Kevin Petry and Jordan Traylor on the staff. The Offensive staff working and evaluating the players in the QB room is a mix of young, seasoned minds, even younger minds, and an older mind for balance when those younger guys may want input from someone who has already seen it all in this league.
Speaking of Dennison, let's consider the knowledge and experience he brings to the table for the Saints.
Here's some Excerpts from his bio at the Saints Official Website and Homepage under Coaches.
Rick Dennison brings a wealth of offensive experience to the Saints in 2023 as the club's senior offensive assistant. Entering his 28th season of coaching in the NFL, Dennison has been part of 13 playoff appearances, five division titles, and three Super Bowl victories - XXXII, XXXIII and 50.
Dennison has been a part of winning programs, posting a .500 or better record in 20 of his 27 NFL seasons and has been part of 12 seasons of 10+ wins under his belt. His 17 seasons in Denver resulted in three Super Bowl titles, eight playoff appearances, four AFC West titles and eight seasons of 10+ wins while only suffering two losing seasons.
Dennison has coached 18 different Pro Bowl players across seven different positions, including six offensive linemen. Of those six, five made their first Pro Bowl appearance under him, while three made all their trips with him as their coach. In Dennison's time as an offensive line coach and offensive coordinator, his rushing offenses have averaged 2,056 yards a season (128.1 ypg.) and 4.4 yards per carry, while producing 14.8 touchdowns a season.
Dennison served as offensive line coach/run game coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings from 2019-20 and as Senior Offensive Advisor in 2021.
Prior to joining the Vikings, Dennison served on the staffs of the New York Jets (2018), Buffalo Bills (2017), Baltimore Ravens (2014), Houston Texans (2010-13) and two stints with the Denver Broncos (1995-2009, '15-16) in a variety of roles.
In 2017, Dennison was Offensive Coordinator for the Bills, helping a Buffalo offense that ranked sixth in rushing.
In his return to Denver as the Offensive Coordinator in 2015, Dennison oversaw the Broncos offense as the team navigated a difficult schedule to finish with a 12-4 record, the AFC West Division title and the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Despite mid-season injury to Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning, Dennison helped the Broncos go 5-2 in QB Brock Osweiler's first seven career starts before Manning returned in Week 17. The offense went on to commit just three turnovers during the postseason to help secure a World Championship in Super Bowl 50 over Carolina.
In Dennison's lone season with Baltimore (2014) and only season Coaching Quarterbacks, Joe Flacco established career-highs in passing yards (3,986-since broken) and touchdown passes (27) and posted a combined eight games with a passer rating above 100.0 while being sacked just 19 times—29 fewer than the previous year.
His first stint as an Offensive Coordinator came with the Broncos (2006-08). The offense ranked seventh in the NFL (350.5 yards per game) as Dennison oversaw one of just two units in the league to rank in the top ten in both passing and rushing.
Undrafted out of Colorado State University, Dennison played nine seasons at linebacker for the Broncos, appearing in 128 games (52 starts) and totaling 514 tackles, 6.5 sacks, four interceptions, six forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He participated in three Super Bowls as a player and was the team's recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award in 1989.
At CSU, he earned three varsity letters and was named a second-team Academic All-American as a senior. Dennison earned two degrees in civil engineering from CSU, first his bachelor's in 1979 and later his master's degree in 1982.
Now while many here quickly assume Allen knows nothing about the offensive side of the ball while giving him credit as a mastermind defensive coordinator, you have to realize to be good at game planning on how to stop the opposing offense you would first have to understand what the opponents offense is doing.
At the end of the day, Allen as HC, has the authority to run the team as he sees fit, but he may also be smart enough to defer some of the depth analysis to his assistants who he has made part of his program. TEAM > me
Hopefully the staff he has assembled will gel and excel in taking the Saints to new heights not seen recently.